Top 11 Must Eats and Sights of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2014 – “Outdoor Kitchens”

This year, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (March 5 – May 18) sees the theme park transformed with new, whimsical topiary displays and a world showcase full of garden-grown treats, savory meats and spring-inspired flavors.

HGTV’s Vern Yip – one of many HGTV personalities on stage at the Epcot Flower and Garden festival this year

In 2014, the 11 food booths (one less than last year’s 12 booths) in the EPCOT World Showcase have been rebranded as “Outdoor Kitchens” with a brand new booth called Urban Farm Eats, inspired by the grow-your-own produce movement and featuring vegetables grown at Epcot’s very own Land Pavillion.

“Piggylicious” bacon cupcake

Epcot Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann is most excited about the new features at The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews “outdoor kitchen”, a truly American tradition of slow-cooked flavors near The American Adventure Pavilion, particularly the smoked turkey “ribs” and the “Piggylicious” bacon cupcake with maple frosting and pretzel crunch featuring Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Bacon baked right into the cupcake.

Tasty Chomps’ Top 11 Must Try Eats at 2014 EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

Epcot Flower and Garden’s Beautiful New Topiary Displays

New this year is a whole series of new topiary displays including the detailed faces of many of the stunning topiary displays of Disney characters through out the park, particularly Snow White…

This was the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves display last year:

Snow White at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2013

Compared to this year, her features are much more detailed:

Snow White at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2014Snow White at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2014Sleepy the DwarfMickey Mouse a la FantasiaThe Lion King’s Rafiki and Simba near the Africa areaCelebrating the upcoming 2014 World Cup at EpcotChip and Mrs. Potts in Epcot France PavilionThe Crocodile from Peter PanBambi, Thumper, and Flower near the Canada pavilionPhineas and FerbA Scandinavian Dwarf at NorwayPluto!Timon and Pumbaa display

Disney’s Frozen arrives at Epcot’s Norway Pavilion

Also, this year right on the heels of their new blockbuster hit “Frozen”, Epcot’s Norway Pavilion has underwent a few changes, most notably the addition of a Disney character Meet and Greet for Elsa and Anna at the pavilion with lines lasting up to 5 hours long. During our visit, the line was 3.5 hours long…quite the wait!

Epcot Norway pavilion updated with Disney’s Frozen artifacts and tie-insLong lines await at the Epcot Norway pavilion for the character meet and greet with Anna and Elsa of Disney’s FrozenOne of the costume displays for Scandinavian cultureOne of the costume displays for Scandinavian cultureThe entrance to the Character Meet and Greet with Anna and Elsa

Video at Epcot of meeting Elsa and Anna at the Epcot character Meet and Greet

More Favorite Scenes from the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival 2014